- Article
- Published:
Geophysical comparison of the three eruptions in the 20th century of Usu volcano, Japan
Earth, Planets and Space volume 52, pages 73–89 (2000)
Abstract
Usu volcano has erupted seven times since 1663. The last three eruptions occurred during the 20th century (1910, 1943 and 1977) and were observed by standard instruments. Although the three eruptions displayed different surface manifestations, they were, similarly, volcanisms derived from dacitic magmas.
In this paper, the three eruptions are compared mainly from the viewpoint of magma movements before and during the eruptions on the basis of geophysical data, i.e. explosive, seismic and thermal activities, ground deformations, and level changes in aquifers. Post-eruption activities are also comparatively reviewed.
Some phenomena related to the three eruptions are reinterpreted: for the 1910 eruption, the cryptodome model of the upheaval is rejected, and the tectonic structure of the craterlet line is proposed; for the 1943 and the 1977 eruptions, the ratios between seismic energy release and deformation are discussed; for the 1977 eruption, a tilt model of the sector deformation is proposed and relationships between anomalous changes in the aquifer level and ground upheavals are discussed.
Magnitudes of the three eruptions are estimated. Tentatively, the 1943 and 1977 eruptions are roughly of the same order of magnitude and the 1910 eruption is one order of magnitude smaller.
Reference
Anderson, E. M., The dynamics of the formation of cone-sheet, ring-dykes, and caldron-subsidence, Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin., 56, 128–157, 1936.
Chouet, B. A., Long-period volcanic seismicity: its source and use in eruption forecasting, Nature, 380, 309–316, 1996.
Dambara, T., Vertical movements of earth’s crust in relation to the Matsushiro earthquake. J. Geod. Soc. Japan, 12, 18–45, 1966 (in Japanese).
Fukutomi, T., On formation of Showa-shinzan, Usu volcano, Kagaku, 16, 3–8, 1946 (in Japanese).
JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency), The eruption of Usu volcano (August 1977–December 1978), Tech. Rep. JMA, 99, 1–204, 1980 (in Japanese).
Katsui, Y., Y. Oba, K. Onuma, T. Suzuki, Y. Kondo, T. Watanabe, K. Niida, T. Uda, S. Hagiwara, T. Nagao, J. Nishikawa, M. Yamamoto, Y. Ikeda, H. Katagawa, N. Tsuchiya, M. Shirahase, S. Nemoto, S. Yokoyama, T. Soya, T. Fujita, K. Inaba, and K. Koide, Preliminary report of the 1977 eruption of Usu volcano, J. Fac. Sci. Hokkaido Univ., Ser. IV, 18, 385–408, 1978.
Kizawa, T., A study of earthquakes in relation to volcanic activity (I) and (II), Paper Met. Geophys., 8, 150–169, 1957 and 9, 204–239, 1958.
Maekawa, T. and H. Watanabe, Damages caused by ground deformations accompanying the 1977–1978 eruption of Usu volcano, Hokkaido (2nd Report), Geophys. Bull. Hokkaido Univ., 40, 47–54, 1981 (in Japanese with English summary).
Minakami, T., Fundamental research for predicting volcanic eruptions (part 1), Bull. Earthq. Res. Inst., 38, 497–544, 1960.
Minakami, T., T. Ishikawa, and K. Yagi, The 1944 eruption of volcano Usu in Hokkaido, Japan, Bull. Volcanol., 11, 45–157, 1951.
Nemoto, T., M. Hayakawa, K. Takahashi, and S. Oana, Report on the geological, geophysical and geochemical studies of Usu volcano, Rep. Geol. Surv. Japan, 170, 1–149, 1957 (in Japanese with English summary).
Niida, K., Y. Katsui, T. Suzuki, and Y. Kondo, The 1977–1978 eruption of Usu volcano, J. Fac. Sci. Hokkaido Univ., Ser. IV, 19, 357–394, 1980.
Nishida, Y. and E. Miyajima, Subsurface structure of Usu volcano, Japan as revealed by detailed magnetic survey, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 22, 271–285, 1984.
Ogawa, Y., N. Matsushima, H. Oshima, S. Takakura, M. Utsugi, K. Hirano, M. Igarashi, and T. Doi, A resistivity cross-section of Usu volcano, Hokkaido, Japan, by audio-magnetotelluric soundings, Earth Planets Space, 50, 339–346, 1998.
Okada, Hm., Earthquake swarm activity of Usu volcano in 1910, Geophys. Bull. Hokkaido Univ., 41, 53–63, 1982 (in Japanese with English abstract).
Okada, Hm., Comparative study of earthquake swarms associated with major volcanic activities, in Arc Volcanism: Physics and Tectonics, edited by D. Shimozuru and I. Yokoyama, pp. 43–61, Terrapub., Tokyo, 1983.
Okada, Hm., H. Watanabe, H. Yamashita, and I. Yokoyama, Seismological significance of the 1977–1978 eruptions and the magma intrusion process of Usu volcano, Hokkaido, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 9, 311–334, 1981.
Omori, F., The Usu-san eruption and earthquake and elevation phenomena, Bull. Imp. Earthq. Inv. Com., 5, 1–137, 1911 and 1913.
Sato, D., Preliminary report on the explosion of Usu Volcano, Bull. Geol. Surv. Japan, 22, 1–46, 1913 (in Japanese).
Sawada, M., The source mechanism of B-type and explosion earthquakes and the origin of N-type earthquakes observed at Asama Volcano, Central Japan, Bull. Earthq. Res. Inst., 73, 155–265, 1998.
Seino, M., Seismic activity accompanying the 1977–1978 eruption of Usu volcano, Japan, Paper Met. Geophys., 54, 105–141, 1983.
Soya, T., Y. Katsui, K. Niida, and K. Sakai, Geological map of Usu volcano, 1:25,000, Geol. Surv. Japan, 1981.
Suzuki, S., H. Yamashita, H. Watanabe, H. Okada, and Y. Nishida, Hypocenters of the premonitory earthquakes to the 1977 eruption of Usu volcano, Bull. Volcanol. Soc. Japan, 3, 181–193, 1980 (in Japanese with English abstract).
Tanakadate, H. Two types of volcanic dome in Japan, Proc. 4th Pacific Sci. Congr., Java, 695–704, 1929.
Yokoyama, I., An interpretation of the 1914 Sakurajima volcano, Proc. Japan Acad., 73, Ser. B, 53–58, 1997.
Yokoyama, I., Y. Katsui, Y. Oba, and Y. Ehara, Usu Volcano: Its Volcano Geology, History of Eruptions, Present State of Activity and Prevention of Disasters, 254 pp., Com. Prev. Disas, Hokkaido, Sapporo, 1973 (in Japanese).
Yokoyama, I., H. Yamashita, H. Watanabe, and Hm. Okada, Geophysical characteristics of dacite volcanism—The 1977–1978 eruption of Usu volcano, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 9, 335–358, 1981.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yokoyama, I., Seino, M. Geophysical comparison of the three eruptions in the 20th century of Usu volcano, Japan. Earth Planet Sp 52, 73–89 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03351616
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03351616